Maple Leaf Foods recalls deli meats, closes plant

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Maple Leaf Foods Inc said on
Wednesday it is recalling packaged deli meats and temporarily
closing the Toronto plant where they were made after some were
found contaminated with listeria bacteria.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the voluntary
recall by Maple Leaf, one of Canada's largest meat processors,
involved processed meat sold across the country to restaurants,
hospitals, nursing homes, and retail and deli counters.

Two of the recalled Maple Leaf products were identified
during an investigation into an outbreak of listeriosis, a type
of food poisoning, said Garfield Balsom, a spokesman for the
CFIA.

Since June, 17 Canadians have become ill with the same
strain of listeriosis, mainly in Ontario, where one affected
person died, a Public Health Agency of Canada spokesman said.

"The source of the outbreak has not been identified yet.
This is what the investigation will determine," said Philippe
Brideau.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle pain, nausea and
diarrhea, and is a particular risk for pregnant women, the
elderly, infants and people with weakened immune systems.

The federal food safety agency sampled some Maple Leaf beef
products and found the bacteria, but has not determined whether
it is the same strain that caused the outbreak, the CFIA's
Balsom said.

"We have not really linked these particular products to the
outbreak, however our investigation is continuing," he said.

"We have to look at all the food that's been consumed ...
and make sure we have the right product," he said.
Continued...